The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 1 (of 4)Valmiki
Religion
The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, Vol. 1 (of 4)
Valmiki
Hinduism -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800; Religious life -- Hinduism -- Early works to 1800
It is both by means of words and lights (_Vágbhábhis_ _i.e._ the words
of the scripture and the lights of nature and reason), that the knower
of the Great God (Brahmavid), perceives the spirit of Brahma appearing
within himself as in a dream. And he also knows him as such, who
understands him according to the purport of the holy text. “What this
is, that is the self.” (_i.e._ He is all in all).
2. This passage shows in short, the visible world to reside in the
vacuous bosom of Brahma at its creation: it is now to be known in
length, what this creation is, whence it takes its rise, and wherein it
becomes extinct at last.
3. Hear me, O intelligent Ráma! now expound to you all things according
to my best knowledge of them, and agreeably to their nature and
substance in the order of creation.
4. One conscious of himself as a spiritual and intelligent being, views
the passing world as a _Somnum_ (swapnam) dream: and this dreaming
simile of the passing world, applies equally to our knowledge of _ego_
and _tu_ or _non-ego_ (which is as false as our cognitions in a dream).
5. Next to the book describing the conduct of the seekers of liberation
(_mumukshu-vyavahára_), then follows the book of evolution (_utpatti_),
which I am now going to propound to you.
SECTION II.
WORLDLY BONDAGE.
6. Bondage consists in our belief of the reality of the visible world
(and our relation with its phenomena, Gloss). So our release depends on
the negation of phenomenals. Now hear me tell you how to get rid of the
visible (fetters of our minds).
7. Whoever is born in this world, continues to progress, till at
last he obtains his final liberation (his _ultimum_ and _optimum_
perfection); or rises towards heaven or falls into hell (under the
subjection of his righteous and unrighteous actions (Gloss)).
8. I shall therefore expound for your understanding every thing
relating to the production and continuance of things, and their prior
states as they were.
9. Hear me Ráma, now give you an abstract of this book in brief, and I
will here-after dilate upon it, as you may wish to know more of this
(theory of production).
SECTION III.
PHASES OF THE SPIRIT.
10. Whatever appears either as moving or unmoving in this world,
know them all as appearances in a dream in a state of sound sleep
(_susupti_); which become extinct at the end of a _Kalpa-age_. (The
events of a _Kalpa_ or day of Brahmá are as his day dream).
11. Then there remains a nameless and undeveloped something, in a
state of deep, dark and dank abyss, without any light or thick-spread
(nebulae) over it. (The Teo and Beo of Moses, the _tama_ = teom of Manu
and Veda, and the Moisture of Thales).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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